Category Archives: Eloisa James

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Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince… and decides he’s anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancee, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn’t love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble…

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune…

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

Review: I had heard a lot about Eloisa James and in particular about her Fairy tales series, so the mixture with historical romances could only please me. I love retellings, especially when they are well made and I admit that I was curious about the ideas of the author!

We thus discover Kate (our Cinderella) who lives with her stepmother and sister. Then, as in the tale, her stepmother forces her to do all the chores while spending money lavishly. What is surprising here is that Kate’s half-sister is nice and full of heart and yes we like her quickly enough. When her stepmother asks her to replace her sister (sick) so she can accompany her boyfriend to have permission from the prince to get married, we wonder how the story will turn out. But when Kate meets the Prince, something appears between them … yet, the prince is waiting for his fiancée too. Even if something happens between them, everything is already planned and Kate knows that she can‘t bring him the money he wants.

It was nice to discover the ideas about the story either for the glass slippers, the fairy godmother or even the reception. I let myself quickly carried away by the story and the characters trying to understand how they would be able to have their happy ending. The more we advance in the novel and the more we realize that it will be something complicated.

Kate is a character to whom we attach quickly. Indeed, it is quite clear for her what she can do in her life and does not take false hope even when the prince shows interest. She does not have any big dreams she hopes to satiate but only wishes to make a living away from home where she knows there is no hope.

You’ll understand, I had a great time and I’m curious to find out what the author will reserve us for the sequels!